The Heart Matters

There are two personal worlds — systems — that live within the human body. 

One, the most accepted, is the brain, the area of knowledge, logic and reason — the intellect.  The place of investigation and experimental processes.

Second,  the least credited, is the heart.  The place of intuition, emotion, feelings and perception.

Two very connected, yet often seen as disconnected organs of the human body.

The brain seemingly functions without the heart.  But actually the brain can’t function unless the heart is actively pumping life into the brain.  

At the same time, the heart takes what the brain know and uses it to complete what simple facts seems to lack.  

Something more, beyond the knowing of it.

Those you who have read my blogs, or heard me preach or teach, are aware of the truth that I love it when I receive confirmation of my person.

To further explain, why this morning was such an epiphany to me, in 1987 I took a popular personality test call the Meyers Briggs Personality Survey.  As I sat there on a sofa, while the person graded my results, I was facing his back.  When I heard these words:  “You don’t like to think at all.  Do you?” My response was "No not really."  He said: "Well you are just one point away from not thinking at all."

That statement was not only accurate; but also felt that maybe I was a bit inadequate. 

Being a logical and detailed thinker has never been my forte.  As I have matured and grown in my faith that statement has less and less power over me.

Then this morning I read these thoughts from Cynthia Bourgeault’s book: The Wisdom Jesus. 

“The heart has a different way of perceiving.  Rather than dividing and conquering, it connects with a seamless and indivisible reality through a whole different way of organizing the informational field.” (p.35) 

“The heart can pick up subtle signals from all levels of reality, not just from what’s happening in the rational.  Intellect is part of it, you notice; but the field of perception goes far beyond just the rational.  The hearts picks up from the emotions, from our sense of proportion, from intuition, from images and archetypes….it keeps us aligned with our innermost, with what we truly know…….the heart does not perceive through differentiation……  (p.36)

After reading this I just sat there trying to figure out why I was feeling so blessed by Bourgeault’s thoughts.    Her thoughts gave me an experience of grace and joy beyond describing. 

I think it must have been a sort of validation of the way I have lived from the time I was a child.  Yet alway feeling stupid.

I do think.  I just think with my heart.

It feels good inside of me today.